Word: vatican
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...candidacy" of Francis Arinze. The Nigerian Cardinal had been billed as the man who could become the first black Pope, garnering loads of media attention during the run-up to the 2005 conclave when Ratzinger eventually emerged as Benedict XVI. Earlier this month Arinze, 76, retired from his top Vatican post, which for all intents and purposes ended any likelihood that he will ever be pontiff...
Once a "Prince of the Church" gives up his day-to-day assignments, he is typically thought to be out of the running for the top job. Arinze, who was once the world's youngest bishop at the age of 33, and a participant at the Second Vatican Council, rose to be a power player in the Roman Curia, serving for many years as the point man on inter-religious dialogue. He served the past six years as the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, which will now be headed by Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera...
...clear that the Vatican's top job (for life) is very much occupied by Benedict, 81, who shows every sign of being in good health, and set to lead Catholics through Midnight Mass for many Christmases to come. But Arinze's retirement raises the question of if and when the Catholic Church will be ready to follow the United States in choosing a man with roots in Africa - or anywhere outside of Europe - to lead its ever more diverse flock. Vatican insiders are reticent to name names with Benedict so firmly in command, but there are several prominent clerics likely...
Among the up-and-coming Cardinals from Africa, Vatican watchers cite Peter Turkson of Ghana, 60 and Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, 67 of South Africa, as potential papal material. Archbishop John Onayiekan of Nigeria, who may soon be up for a Cardinal slot, is considered "strong here and back there," says one Rome insider, referring to Onayiekan's knowledge of the Third World and his skills navigating the ins and outs of the Holy...
Still, the Vatican parlor game of trying to envision future papal candidates is slippery business. Perhaps the strongest African candidate of the 20th century was the widely respected Cardinal Bernardin Gantin of Benin, who died in May at the age of 86. Having once headed the powerful Congregation of Bishops, some thought Gantin could be an ideal candidate to replace John Paul, whose health was long suffering. But the durable Polish pontiff lived much longer than many predicted, and Gantin eventually retired back to Africa...